Playa La Ticla, Michoacan

Renowned surfing destination, Playa La Ticla is about 2.5km off the main highway. It can feel like a dusty, down-at-heel town, but it's famous for its brilliant, long, left-point break.

In addition to being breathtakingly gorgeous and far less developed, it is also virtually free of tourists. Michoacan, which offers miles of deserted stretches of beaches with epic, gorgeous waves, has retained its authenticity and pristine nature since it lacks a big vacation destination or cosmopolitan city. Playa La Ticla is a surfer's paradise with basic amenities that encourage eco-friendly, back-to-nature vacations. On the beachfront, a few palapa restaurants serve fresh seafood. The drawback of Michoacan is that it has had its fair share of problems with drug gangs and cartels. The coast is safer than it has been in a while, but it is still advised to travel during the day and to always stay in the hotel districts. It wouldn't be a good idea to explore the unknown in this state.